A new community-run library is opening in Timsbury this week – the second new library of its kind to open as a result of the Council’s Modern Libraries Programme, which will mean volunteers running rural library spaces.

The new library, which opened its doors on Monday, will be run by Timsbury Parish Council and will be housed within the YMCA Building in North Road. The library will form the core part of a new Community Hub in the village, run by local volunteers. The Hub will provide an open public space for local people to drop in for information and social contact.

The Library is stocked with approximately 2,600 books to browse and has click and collect facilities, which enable users to order and return books available via the LibrariesWest catalogue. New library members can also be enrolled and there is free internet access, printing, scanning and laminating facilities.

The Parish Council applied in August to set up and run the library and was awarded a grant to help fund the preparation. The library will open four days a week: Mondays 9.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m., Tuesdays 2 p.m. – 5 p.m., Thursdays 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturdays 9.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.

The Parish Council has organised free Dial-A-Ride to the Hub on Mondays, which will run until the end of January. Cllr Veronica Packham, Chair of Timsbury Parish Council, said: “This library and Hub is a wonderful new facility for the village, in which over twenty volunteers and the Parish Council are investing a great deal of enthusiasm. It is an important public place which will welcome residents to drop in.

“We are grateful to B&NES staff for all their help with this project, and we look forward to working in partnership with them in future as we provide a service to our local community.”

A number of regular events are already planned at the Hub: Parent and Baby sessions on Mondays, pre-schoolers singing and storytime on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and a Memory group on Tuesdays. The Parish Council are also interested to hear from people who have ideas for other activities and events.

Further details can be foundat: www.timsbury.org.uk/hub/ or by contacting Co-ordinator, Liz Casson, on: 01761 470295 / [email protected]